Photovoltaic History: A Timeline of Important Breakthroughs

The discovery of Photovoltaic (PV) cells, the cells that power solar power, dates as far as the 1800s. It all began when a nineteen-year old French scientist, Edmond Becquerel was experimenting with an electrolytic cell composed of two metal electrodes. He discovered that the materials would emit amounts of energy when exposed to light. This observation was the birth of the PV effect.

1839 – Edmond Becquerel discovers PV effect.

1883 – An American inventor, Charles Fritts develops the first PV cell by putting selenium on a metal plate.

1877 – William Adams and Richard Day, both American scientists, publish “The action of light on selenium.”

1888 – An American chemist, Edward Weston receives the first US Patent for Solar Cell.

1888 to 1891 – Aleksandr Stoletov develops the first solar cell using the outer photoelectric effect.